Metabolic profiling of natural and cultured Cordyceps by NMR spectroscopy

Abstract

Cordyceps , a type of Chinese herbal medicine that exhibits anti-angiogenesis and tumor growth suppression effects, has recently gained increasing popularity. However, high-quality, natural Cordyceps , such as Ophiocordyceps sinensis , is very rare and difficult to obtain in large amounts. Cordyceps is cultured instead of harvested from natural sources, but the quality with respect to the ingredients has not been fully studied. In this study, we performed an NMR metabolic profiling of aqueous extracts of Cordyceps without any sample treatment to evaluate the proper species and medium and influence of two different disinfection methods. It was discovered that Cordyceps militaris fungus and silkworm chrysalis medium were suitable for cultivation of Cordyceps . Furthermore, cordycepin, a Cordyceps -specific functional compound, was produced at different growth stages during different cultivation processes, even at the mycelial stage, and was found at three times higher concentrations in cultured C. militaris compared to that in naturally occurring C. militaris .

Neuroprotective effects of Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Pers. against high-dose corticosterone-induced oxidative stress in PC-12 cells

“…Structures of adenosine and herierin III were elucidated via the obtained NMR spectral data, including 1D ( 1 H and 13 C NMR) and 2D NMR [correlation spectroscopy (COSY), heteronuclear single quantum correlation (HSQC), heteronuclear multiple bond coherence (HMBC)]. Spectral data are in agreement with those reported in the literature for structural elucidation of adenosine [ 30 ] and herierin III [ 31 ]. The complete NMR data assignments of both compounds were summarised in Additional file 1 .…”

Cordyceps militaris Fruit Body Extract Decreases Testosterone Catabolism and Testosterone-Stimulated Prostate Hypertrophy

“…Unknown bioactive components or the interactive actions of multiple compounds in CM may exhibit various pharmacological effects. Intriguingly, it is reported that C. militaris from nature does not contain trehalose based on NMR analysis by other groups [ 28 ], but CM examined in this study contains an extremely high concentration. Although the direct relationship to the biological activity of major metabolites such as trehalose in CM is not clear at present, it is possible that the amounts of secondary metabolites having the direct biological activity also may be affected by the hosts and growing condition.…”

Stage- and Rearing-Dependent Metabolomics Profiling of Ophiocordyceps sinensis and Its Pipeline Products

“…The metabolomic analytical technique has been used to explore metabolome similarities and differences in O. sinensis products or related products. By 1 H NMR spectroscopybased approach, metabolic profiles of various products including wild O. sinensis from three geographical locations and cultivated mycelia derived from three origins [28], three types of natural Cordyceps (O. sinensis, Cordyceps militaris and C. nutans) and Paecilomyces tenuipe samples, and 2 types of cultured C. militaris samples in aqueous extracts [52], natural O. sinensis and commercial C. militaris in water-boiled and 50% ethanol-soaked extracts [29] were analyzed. Using LC-MS, the metabolome differences between wild O. sinensis and artificial cultured C. militaris were conducted [53], and the components of aqueous extract of artificial cultured C. sinensis were profiled with focusing on the polar compounds [54].…”